BSc (Hons) International Business and Management

A flexible business degree built around working professionals

The BSc (Hons) International Business and Management at ECBM is tailored for professionals who want to advance their careers while balancing work commitments. Awarded by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), this internationally recognised honours degree gives you the strategic, ethical and financial expertise to excel in international business.

• Keep working while you study A part-time, blended programme with weekend study options, so you continue earning throughout.
• An LJMU honours degree Internationally recognised, building strategic, ethical and financial expertise from a renowned UK university.
• A current curriculum AI in business, ethics and sustainability are built into the modules, not bolted on afterwards.
• A dissertation research project An individual 10,000-word investigation of a real business challenge that you choose.

This is a top-up degree. It builds on the vocational qualification you already hold and carries you through the final stage of a UK Bachelor's degree, so you graduate with a full honours qualification without starting from scratch.

You study part-time over 12 to 18 months through weekend sessions in London, supported by e-learning and self-study in between. Every module connects academic theory to real business practice, so you apply what you learn at work straight away.

The award is a full UK honours degree at FHEQ Level 6, worth 180 ECTS, recognised internationally. On completion you can progress directly to a Master's, either the MSc International Business and Management or the MBA.

From vocational qualification to full honours degree

A top-up degree recognises the learning you have already done. Your vocational qualification counts toward the degree, so you join at the final stage and complete the honours year with us.

• Your vocational qualification – A Kaufmann or Kauffrau, Fremdsprachenkorrespondent or Fremdsprachenkorrespondentin, or an equivalent business certification counts toward the earlier stages of the degree.
• A short pre-course (If required) – A BTEC Higher Nationals HN Flex pre-course (£500) may be needed to meet UK university Level 6 entry. Many applicants do not require it.
• The BSc top-up year – The final Level 6 stage, 12 to 18 months part-time, studied through weekend sessions in London and online learning in between.
• Your honours degree – Graduate with a full BSc (Hons) awarded by LJMU, then progress to the MSc or MBA.

Everything at a glance

The essentials in one place. If a figure here matters to your decision, you will find it explained in full further down the page or in the FAQ.

Your tuition fee

£1,500 scholarship available

Pay across three instalments. A separate BTEC HN Flex pre-course of £500 applies only if it is needed to meet Level 6 entry. Scholarships of £1,500 are available if eligible.

Your entry pathway

• Hold a recognised business qualification: Kaufmann or Kauffrau, Fremdsprachenkorrespondent or Fremdsprachenkorrespondentin, or equivalent.
• Have a good level of English. No language certificate is required.
• Complete the short BTEC HN Flex pre-course if it is needed to meet Level 6 entry.
• Earn a BSc (Hons) awarded by LJMU, then progress to the MSc or MBA.

Additional costs

Your tuition fee for the academic year is stated above.

We also offer optional in-person events in London: a 3-day visit and a 2-day alumni event. Attendance is entirely voluntary and is not assessed. If you choose to attend, you arrange and pay for your own travel and accommodation; these costs are not included in your tuition fee and are not booked, funded or reimbursed by ECBM.

As a guide, based on 2026 prices and travelling from Germany, a 3-day visit costs approximately £320 to £745 and a 2-day visit approximately £230 to £555, including return travel, accommodation, local transport and meals. You will also need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation see gov.uk

These figures are estimates only, provided to help you budget. They are not a quotation and actual costs will vary.

12 to 18 months, six subject areas, one honours degree

A clear path from enrolment to graduation, with the Contemporary Research module preparing you directly for your dissertation.

• Enrolment – Application reviewed, with the HN Flex pre-course only if required.
• Study weekends begin – Around 7 weekends over the year, Friday to Sunday or Saturday to Sunday.
• Core modules – Business Strategy, Accounting and Finance, Marketing Communications, Ethics and Sustainability.
• Contemporary Research – Analytical thinking and research into modern business challenges.
• Dissertation – Your 10,000-word research project. BSc (Hons) awarded by LJMU.
• London weekend sessions Interactive seminars, case studies and business simulations with lecturers who have industry experience.
• AI and sustainability throughout A curriculum built for the changing global business landscape, woven through every module.
• A supervised dissertation A 10,000-word investigation applying your learning to a real business challenge.

How you will learn

Interactive weekend study in London, combined with structured self-study in between, so the programme fits around your working week.

• Interactive seminars with lecturers who have industry experience, plus guest speakers from business.
• Case studies and business simulations exploring real-world business challenges.
• Group discussions and collaborative learning with your cohort.
• Weekend study options, so you continue working while you study.
• AI in business, a practical look at how technology is reshaping management.
• E-learning materials and self-study between weekend sessions.
• Independent assignments throughout the programme.
• Assessment by reports, essays, written exams and presentations.
• A supervised dissertation, a 10,000-word research project.
• Full LJMU digital library access and research resources throughout.
• Around 7 weekend sessions Spread over 12 months in London, with a September 2026 start.
• Blended online learning E-learning, self-study and interactive seminars in one place.

An alumni network inside leading organisations

ECBM graduates hold key positions in respected companies across finance, automotive, technology and beyond. Through the alumni network you gain access to their experience and introductions.

• VP and Director positions Senior leadership roles across sectors.
• Finance, investment and banking Roles at leading financial institutions.
• Marketing and entrepreneurship Corporate management and business ownership.

Commerzbank AGDeutsche Lufthansa AGVolkswagen GroupSiemens AGDeutsche BörseRobert Bosch GmbHBNY MellonDeutsche BankJPMorgan Chase & Co.Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Employer names reflect organisations where ECBM alumni have worked. Logos are used only with written permission from each company.

What you will study

Five subject areas across the honours year, culminating in your dissertation. The curriculum is designed to build critical business knowledge, leadership skills and strategic decision-making. Modules follow the LJMU programme specification.

• International Business Strategy (20 credits) – Lead strategy that builds competitive advantage internationally: setting mission, vision and objectives, drawing on diversity, and growing global firms through alliances, mergers and acquisitions.Assessed byReports, essays and presentations
• Accounting and Finance (20 credits) – Think like a global finance manager: making sound investing, financing and dividend decisions, backed by strong financial, management and reporting skills for international decision-making.Assessed byWritten coursework and examination
• Marketing Communications (20 credits) – Craft integrated communications that work across every sector, from industrial and service to not-for-profit and international, grounded in consumer behaviour, e-business and real marketing cases.Assessed byReports, presentations and case-study analysis
• International Ethics and Sustainability (20 credits) – Apply ethical theory with confidence to real global-business dilemmas, reasoning through supply-chain challenges and changing consumer expectations, and defending your conclusions.Assessed byEssay and written coursework
• Contemporary Research (40 credits) – Build deep expertise in a topic of your choice, developing advanced analytical, problem-solving and academic-writing skills. This module leads directly into your dissertation research project.Assessed byResearch portfolio and your 10,000-word dissertation

120 Level 6 credits, the top-up year

180 ECTS full honours degree

FHEQ Level 6

Awarding body: Liverpool John Moores University

Assessment overall: reports, essays, written exams, presentations and a 10,000-word dissertation.

Employability skills built in: critical and analytical thinking, communication, AI in business, leadership and management.

Dissertation research project An individual research project of 10,000 words, delivered as the assessed output of your Contemporary Research module. You investigate a real business challenge in depth, demonstrating analytical and project-management capability at degree level, supervised by faculty throughout.

What you receive

The BSc is a Collaborative Programme, delivered by ECBM and validated by Liverpool John Moores University. On completion you receive a certificate and transcript as appropriate, confirming an LJMU honours degree.

ECBM arranges a graduation ceremony so you can mark the achievement with your cohort, faculty and family.

Why LJMU

LJMU is a renowned UK institution known for its industry-focused education and commitment to employability. Through its partnership with ECBM, it ensures you receive a practical, career-oriented business education that is academically rigorous.